Demand is still very light for all hay offerings. Hay prices, across the board, continue to weaken as new hay hits the ground. Feedyards do not seem to be buying much with lower cattle numbers and an abundance of other feed options out there along with the availability of 2023 carry over hay. Second cut alfalfa is being finished up and producers are starting on 3rd. Yields have had mixed results. First cutting for many areas was light with second being better. According to the US Drought Monitor’s High Plains summary for the week of July 9th, like the Midwest, most of the region recorded precipitation during the week with pockets of heavier rains in Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota and southeast Colorado. With much of the region drought free, there were pockets of improvement over Nebraska, western Kansas and southeast Colorado where abnormally dry and moderate drought areas were reduced. The categorical percent area for abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to 29%, moderate drought (D1) decreased to 14.5%, severe drought (D2) remained at 4%, and no extreme drought (D3) or exceptional drought (D4) was recorded. Prices below reflect the average price. There could be prices higher and lower than those published. FULL REPORT

Southwest Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices are steady. Grinding alfalfa price steady to $5.00 lower and ground and delivered alfalfa price steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow none reported. Fair/good, old crop grinding alfalfa, large rounds $115.00-$125.00 delivered, new crop $115.00-$125.00 delivered, old crop large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s $110.00-$120.00, new crop $110.00-120.00 delivered. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $155.00-$170.00. Triticale: large squares $85.00-$95.00, ground and delivered $155.00. The week of 7/7-7/13, 3,245T of grinding alfalfa and 75T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on July1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $188.60, down $20.11 from the previous month. Usage was 550T/day, down 6% from last month and total usage was 16,491.5T.

South Central Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices are steady. Grinding alfalfa steady, Ground and delivered steady, and alfalfa pellet price all steady to $5.00 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good, Stock cow, none reported. Fair/good old crop grinding alfalfa, large rounds $120.00–$130.00 delivered, new crop $120.00-$130.00 delivered, old crop 3×4 and 4×4’s $110.00-$120.00 delivered, new crop $110.00-$120.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $150.00-$165.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $255.00-$265.00, 17 pct protein $275.00-$280, Dehydrated 17 pct protein: $385.00-$400.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, large rounds and large squares $120.00-$130.00. The week of 7/7-7/13, 8,119.5T of grinding alfalfa and 375T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on July1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $164.96, down $14.54 from the previous month. Usage was 241T/day, down 2% from last month and total usage was 7,238T.

Southeast Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Bluestem $5.00 lower and brome hay price steady. Alfalfa: horse or goat, none reported. Dairy, none reported. Good, stock cow, new crop $130.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, none reported. Grass hay: Bluestem, old crop small squares $180.00-$200.00, large round old crop $125.00-$135.00, large square, old crop 3×4 and 4×4’s $150.00-$160.00. Brome, old crop small squares $200.00-$205.00, large rounds none reported, large square 3×4 and 4×4’s none reported, new crop $160.00-170.00. The week of 7/7-7/13, 1,2T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Grinding alfalfa prices are steady. Alfalfa: horse, small squares $13.25/bale. Dairy, Premium/Supreme, none reported. Stock cow, good, none reported, Alfalfa fair/good old crop 3×3’s $120.00, Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $100.00/T; Sudan large rounds none reported.

North Central-Northeast Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa price is steady, grinding alfalfa steady to$5.00 lower, ground and delivered steady, and grass hay mostly steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV; Horse hay, premium small squares 13.00/bale; Stock Cow 3×4’s none reported; Old crop fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $85.00-$95.00, new crop large rounds 85.00-95.00, large square 3×4’s none reported. Old crop alfalfa ground and delivered $150.00-$170.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares $8.00-$9.00/bale, large rounds 100.00-110.00/t, large square 3×4 and 4×4’s $130.00-$135.00/ton. Brome: old crop small squares $10.00-14.00/bale, new crop large rounds $120.00-$140.00/t, new crop, large square $145.00-155.00/t. Wheat straw: large round $60.00-$70.00. The week of 7/7-7/13, 619T of grinding alfalfa and 285T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

THIS HAS BEEN YOUR KANSAS HAY MARKET REPORT. THIS IS KIM NETTLETON WITH THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, MANHATTAN, KS